Such an unpleasant phenomenon as diarrhea can be a symptom of a disease, or it can be caused by external factors of an allergic or emotional nature, the use of unusual foods or overeating, alcohol abuse, etc. The danger of diarrhea is dehydration of the body, so there is a huge amount of medicines and traditional medicine to fix the stool.
One of the most effective drugs for stopping diarrhea is Loperamide. Applying it to eliminate the symptoms of diarrhea caused by:
- irritable bowel syndrome;
- a nervous breakdown, a stressful situation;
- using medication;
- is an allergic reaction to unfamiliar foods;
- individual intolerance;
- are other causes of an infectious nature.
The antiperspirant effect of Loperamide is based on inhibiting the activity of muscle contractions and increasing the tone of the anal sphincter. It should be noted that the action of the medicine against diarrhea of Loperamide is symptomatic. That is, inhibiting the progress and processing of food in the sections of the gastrointestinal tract, it compacts the contents of stool and increases the time between acts of defecation. Drug for diarrhea Loperamide is available in the form of capsules( tablets) containing 0.2 g of active substance, as well as additional substances( lactose, calcium or magnesium stearate, corn starch, talc, colloidal silicon dioxide).
With diarrhea Loperamide acts in several directions at once:
- Restores intestinal activity, removing manifestations of flatulence.
- Strengthens the sphincter, facilitating the retention of feces and increasing the interval between acts of defecation.
- By inhibiting the secretion of fluid and electrolytes into the lumen of the intestine, prevent watery diarrhea.
Loperamide is prescribed for the treatment of:
- inflammation in the large and small intestine;
- gastroenteritis;
- food poisoning;
- Diarrhea in Diabetes;
- exacerbation of cholecystitis and pancreatitis.
Adults initially prescribed 2 tablets for acute diarrhea, and then one piece after each trip to the toilet. Their total should not exceed eight per day. In chronic diarrhea, the daily dosage is 4 mg. For children, the daily dose of Loperamide from diarrhea, depending on the age, ranges from 3 mg to 8 mg. In this case, children from 4 to 8 years old are prescribed tablets containing 1 mg of active ingredient three times a day and not more than three days.
For children under 12 years old, loperamide tablets from diarrhea take five days, one piece, four times a day. They are not washed down with water, but placed under the tongue until complete resorption. Different manufacturers give their names to the medicine, but in fact this is the same drug.
Capsules Loperamide against diarrhea can be prescribed to children, but only older than six years, but mostly they are prescribed to adults. The content of the active substance is the same as in tablets, so the dosage is the same. Take them with a small amount of water. This drug is sold from diarrhea in pharmacies freely, without a prescription, but it is necessary to pay attention to the expiration date. Depending on the manufacturer, it can be from three to five years.
Side effects of Loperamide with diarrhea
Despite the fact that the remedy for diarrhea - Loperamide is dispensed without a prescription, refers to its use carefully. Especially it concerns children. It was found that the main cause of death in children under two years of age is the independent decision of the parents on the treatment of the child with this drug. Negative effects on children under six years of capsules Loperamide, so at this age the drug is prescribed in the form of tablets. Contraindications to the use of the drug are:
- exacerbation of ulcerative colitis;
- intestinal obstruction;
- lactose intolerance and individual drug intolerance;
- diverticulosis of the intestine.
Given that Loperamide affects the central nervous system depressingly, the following symptoms are possible with an overdose:
- drowsiness, impaired coordination of movements;
- shortness of breath;
- convulsivity and intestinal obstruction.
Loperamide has a quick effect on the elimination of diarrhea symptoms, but to restore the intestinal microflora and compensate for the loss of fluids and nutrients, the use of appropriate drugs is also recommended. With bloating, constipation, treatment immediately stops. If diarrhea is caused by an infection, then the drug can seriously aggravate the situation. Therefore, if the cause of diarrhea is unknown, it is not recommended to use it.